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best setup to get your moneys worth?
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| RaVeRSurGe_NYTA |
mmmm... too lazy to search through all the threads... especially when they're dated and all... was wonderin what are the best turntables and mixer i can get to start off...
i got hd280s headphones... a nice onkyo h760 system....
... realistically... what should i save up for? is there a huge difference between the mk5 and mk2 and all that.... should i get technic mk5s?.... and which mixer (i want lots of options ;) )...
thankx in advance...
lookin for a system that i can become pro with through practice and wont have to update for a long time... realisically less than 2000 with turntables & mixer... |
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| Briden |
you already have wicked headphones (that's what i have too)
get 2 technics tables, any kind will do.
Here's a rundown of the different tech models, with + and - important features for each (there are other differences, but they are inconsequential)
MK2 = basic
M3D = +notchless pitch +includes slipmats -non hingeable dustcovers
MK5 = no significant change from M3D
MK5G = + dual range pitch control
If i were you i'd go for the M3Ds (I did), because the pitch notch is annoying (ask if you need clarification on this), and they can usually be had for the same price as MK2s.
You can pick up some decks for about $399US I think, maybe $450 at most, which leaves you with $1100 for a mixer. (i don't know what tax and shipping would be, so i am leaving it out)
OOPS, i forgot needles. You would think that decks that expensive would come with needles, but you'd be wrong. You could go high class and get awesome needles right from the start:
Shure Whitelabel X 2 = $220
OR
Ortofon Concorde Blue X 2 = $260
leaving you with $840 or more, but instead, i suggest you go for cheap needles to start with, as if your learning, nobodys going to be hearing them but you for a while anyway. These ones are fairly good:
Stanton 500AL2 X 2 = $60
that leaves you $1040 for a mixer, which is still a lot.
As for which mixer, well.. that's up to you. and there are several wicked mixers you can get for that price. If you want something you won't have to update for a long time, i suggest something durable, and with good build quality and not too many features.
I also suggest getting something without beat counters or effects, as they will just confound your ability to learn.
Also, I suggest a 3 channel mixer. eventually, you are going to want to add a third deck, or a CD player, or a sampler or something.
Here are two top notch mixers satisfying those requirements:
Rane Empath $1000
Allen and Heath XONE:32 (OK it has FX, but still worth it) $800
Here's a couple for a lot cheaper (saving money to buy records), but still very good:
Vestax PCV 275 $439
Numark Matrix 3 $300
Behringer VMX 300 $169 (OK it has a beatcounter, but tape over it)
The mixer is the most complicated decision, you need to look at a lot of things such as numer of channels, number of inputs, build quality, sound quality, EQ control, special features, output types, crossfader curves etc. Without knowing what you want to mix, it's hard to say which is the best choice.
I hope I helped you out!
BTW, are you the same Raver_Surge from the quote:
| quote: |
dave dresden: me explaining how to use chat is like Raver_Surge explaining how to mix?
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if so.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! |
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| zizack |
If you're just starting out, trying to learn how to mix should be your first priority, not figuring out how great a setup you can get for 2 grand. When you're dealing with equipment like this, the more expensive equipment isn't going to make you become a better DJ any sooner. Honestly, there's no point in getting two 1200MK5G's to start out with. If I saw some total newbie spinning on those, I'd laugh at him. Go with the MK2's or M3d...niether should cost you more than $800 for the pair, and are more than what you need to learn on.
Needles: like he said, you don't need to start out with Whitelabels or anything. I've been spinning for like 7 months, and I started out with those cheap Stantons. They were great to learn the basics, and they're cheap as hell. After a few months, upgrade.
Mixer: tough one. Again, I personally think it's retarded to start off with a Rane or A&H. Yeah, you're all motivated now, but you really can't say that you're gonna stick with until you become a pro. It's just not that easy. You can lose interest, find out you really don't have a knack for it, get hit with some debts, anythign can happen. Why do you need a $1000 mixer? You don't. Persoanlly, I would look into the two 19-inch Denon mixers, both are less than $500 and are awesome. Some of the Vestax mixers are nice too, and not terribly expensive.
You can get a very very nice setup for well under $1500, which leaves a lot left over for vinyl. If you really really want to become a great DJ, the best equipment out there shoudln't even be a thought at this point. Kids who run out and drop 2 grand on equipment in one day are going through a phase. I've seen it happen before. And once the novelty of all that cool new gear wears off, they lose interest and it's up for sale. Do some reasearch, hit up a Sam Ash or somethign and try stuff out. See whats out there, and don't fool yourself into thinking that MK%G's and a Rane are gonna make you Ferry Corsten over night. |
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| `pr0digy |
Under $2000 ? Damn. My two m3d's + stanton sk 2f mixer + needles cost < $900. Sure, it was used, but even new you won't spend 2 grand. I'd personally go with m3ds, but in another thread there's a pretty big discussion on mk2 vs m3d, so no need to go over it again here. Also, I don't think you'll need a thousand dollar mixer to start.
Get mk2's or m3d's, a decent mixer (sub $300 I'd say), some cheap needles (for now) and buy some vinyl. |
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| Inertia |
| quote: | Originally posted by RaVeRSurGe_NYTA
mmmm... too lazy to search through all the threads... especially when they're dated and all... was wonderin what are the best turntables and mixer i can get to start off...
i got hd280s headphones... a nice onkyo h760 system....
... realistically... what should i save up for? is there a huge difference between the mk5 and mk2 and all that.... should i get technic mk5s?.... and which mixer (i want lots of options ;) )...
thankx in advance...
lookin for a system that i can become pro with through practice and wont have to update for a long time... realisically less than 2000 with turntables & mixer... |
well, you got phones, and soundsystem.
for 2000, you can get a VERY good system,
hell, for 2 grand you could get a pair of techs
and a top of the line mixer. my recommendation
is Mk2's/M3D's (depending on your preference,
check info on prev. posts) and something like
those 3 channel mixers Vestax has, or a Behringher
VMX-300, which i hear is quite good. i think
you could very well afford a DJM-3000, or a 500
or even a 600, giving you facility for when
you decide to get cdplayers or a 3rd deck, but
i think thats a lil overkill to start with.
if i were you, id get me a nice 3chan mixer,
2x M3D's, some good needles and use the rest
of the money for vinyl. |
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| Inertia |
| quote: | Originally posted by Briden
I hope I helped you out!
BTW, are you the same Raver_Surge from the quote:
if so.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! |
hehe, its from my sig, and it was markus schulz that said that
on #GDJB |
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| Nemesis44 |
Hey RaVeRSurGe_NYTA,
First up I would get a set of Technics Mk2s. Probably the only decks you'll ever need to buy. Whilst the Mk5G is a nice deck with the option of a higher pitch the reality of you really needing it is slim as most music sounds ridiculous pitched up anywhere over 8%.
The decks are the easy part as there is only really one option (Nem looks around sheepishly for all the Numark fans). ;)
When it comes to mixer you have a whole range of stuff to choose from. And most times it does come down to personal prefference. I think the post that said you should try to avoid anything with effects and most certainly avoid anything with a beat counter is good sound advice.
For it's price I actually think the Vestax PCV 275 is the one I would choose but that's partially down to my own experience with Vestax mixers.
Behringer also make some good options so are definately worth looking into.
The best thing you should do with a mixer is try it out and see how it feels. Some people their faders loose... others may not and so on.
There are some must have features though if you are going to play trance. The first being that it should have at least a 3 band EQ for each channel. The second will be gain for each channel.
The other thing to keep in mind is that it's not just about the gear you have. It's more about the music you carry with you. And that can cost a hell of a lot too. :)
Cheers
Nem |
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| AndskiSpeed |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nemesis44
most music sounds ridiculous pitched up anywhere over 8%. |
No it doesnt :p I wish I could get more than 10% on my belt drive decks :( |
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| Nemesis44 |
| quote: | Originally posted by AndskiSpeed
No it doesnt :p I wish I could get more than 10% on my belt drive decks :( |
Ok, perhaps I should clarify.
Vocals tend to sound really daft at this increase not to mention that a lot of tracks loose their bass at certain points if they have a bassline which has higher notes in it.
Also the spacing of the notes can give it a very messy feel. Although there are people who write music that's a lot faster very often they will create wider spaces between the notes in the music (unless we are talking gabba etc.) like drum and bass for example which usually has beats around 165 to 170 bpm but the melodies are usually written at half the pace (around 80bpm) so it gives that reggae type feel in terms of tempo.
I will however freely admit that there are songs that sound better at +8 than they do at 0 but on the whole I still think that there are limits as to how far you can take pitch.
Each to their own I guess, I just know that in my own ears music that goes too fast just sounds wrong. Also if people are familiar with a track they will also see this on the dancefloor and not always like it.
Just my 20 pence worth. :)
Cheers
Nem |
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